Poll: Which mayoral candidate has your vote?

Update on March 30 at 10:45 a.m. — ALXnow has conducted an analysis on this poll, and found that a number of fraudulent votes were cast. 

A seemingly safe reelection bid for incumbent Mayor Justin Wilson took a sudden sharp turn this week as two new candidates entered the race, including former Mayor Allison Silberberg coming back for a rematch.

Council member Mo Seifeldein had initially announced a campaign against Wilson, but dropped out of the race.

The announcement conjured memories of the tense 2018 race between the two candidates that saw three years of vicious City Council arguments between Wilson and Silberberg boil over into campaigns divided as much by opposing personalities as differing policies.

In 2015, then Vice Mayor Silberberg ran against incumbent Mayor Bill Euille. Silberberg’s coalition of voters included many who were frustrated by new density and development approved under Euille — particularly along the Waterfront. Silberberg also benefitted from former Mayor Kerry Donley joining the race, splitting the more pro-density, institutional support for Euille.

Silberberg not only won the Democratic primary, but easily fended off a write-in campaign from Euille in the general election. The next three years, however, were filled with votes where Silberberg was often the lone voice against new development or legislative changes. In 2018, then Vice Mayor Justin Wilson ousted Silberberg.

But in the years since, many of those same concerns about density and development have resurfaced — from heated feelings over new bike lanes to large new development in Old Town.

While Silberberg and Wilson square off in the Democratic primary, scheduled for June 8, whoever wins could still face newcomer Annetta Catchings as a Republican candidate for mayor in the fall.